Vail Symposium pingpong event slated for Saturday

Special to the Daily/Betty Ann Woodland
John Stone returns the ball as Rob LeVine prepares for his next shot as they battle for the SPiN tournament title during last year's inaugural SPiN tournament in Vail.

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SPiN Vail returns for its second year this Saturday with a ping-pong tournament in Vail. The Vail Symposium invites the community to get in on the game, or just come to hang out and check out the action. All ages and abilities are invited to enter the half-day tournament, which is a fundraiser benefitting the Vail Symposium.

"Last year's SPiN tournament was a blast, and this year's will be even better," said Alby Segall, Vail Symposium president and CEO. "With a more competitive field and longer play time, I am really looking forward to a great day. SPiN Vail is a great way to exercise, have fun, and support the Vail Symposium."

Based on feedback from last year's tournament, the organization worked hard to make some changes to ensure everyone who signs up to play gets ample time at the table this year.

"This Saturday's tournament will be comprised of a singles competition and a doubles competition," said Segall. "There will be more play time than last year. Each competition will have the full run of the tables for their designated time and each match will be best of three games followed by a round robin of play."

There will also be prizes for tournament winners.

SPiN Vail is modeled after SPiN Galactic, a galaxy of ping-pong social clubs created by owners Franck Raharinosy, Andrew Gordon, Jonathan Bricklin, and Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon. With locations around the globe, including New York, Milwaukee, Toronto, and St. Petersburg, the clubs are a smashing success with a loyal following from serious ping-pong aficionados, A-list celebrities and common-folk alike.

The clubs provide a unique place to hang out with old friends, meet new ones, and play ping-pong while sipping a cocktail, or eating a snack, or perhaps watching a professional ping-pong match on SPiN's center court.

And while ping-pong has proved its popularity through SPiN worldwide, it has proved it has strong following right here in the Vail Valley through these tournaments, and so, the Vail Symposium is hoping to work with SPiN Galactic to open a permanent SPiN Vail facility next summer.